Alex Bec
Founder · Ceo · Co-founder · Cofounder
17 articles · Aug 2011 — Jan 2026
Quotes
“Start getting on their radars”
“My hunch is that this level of economic uncertainty is now the new normal and it’s important we all give ourselves a break.”
“Business knowledge can – and should – also be creative.”
“It’s dangerous to see the ‘business’ and ‘creative’ work as separate silos.”
“Why not create something yourself that will entice the people you’re trying to meet or connect with?”
“Make sure you seek out some freelancers working in the same field as you, and ask them the tough questions.”
“Email your favourite designer, ask for the chance to sit next to them on a project, at a conference, to show them you work, or other ways to pick up little tips here and there.”
“Can you get your foot in the door at some studios as a freelancer?”
“Bigger studios [are] most likely to have the means to sponsor someone like you”
“If in doubt, I’d always urge you to trust your instinct.”
Articles & interviews
- “Try reaching out to some founders”
It's Nice That · Jan 26, 2026
Alex Bec, co-founder of It’s Nice That, offers advice on how to discover lesser-known creative companies and entry-level opportunities in the design industry. He recommends using Creative Lives in Progress’ Opportunities Board and directory, attending free events, and proactively following and contacting studios and founders to build connections.
It's Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progressother - “It reminds me how bad I am at making predictions”
It's Nice That · Dec 8, 2025
Alex Bec, co-founder of It’s Nice That, reflects on the past year in his end-of-year Creative Career Conundrums column for If You Could Jobs. He discusses recurring themes of economic uncertainty and career change among creatives, and shares hopes for a more balanced and self-compassionate 2026. The piece also highlights ongoing job opportunities within the creative industry.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - "Merging Business and Creative Sectors Boosts Success"
It's Nice That · Sep 15, 2025
In this edition of Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec, co-founder of It’s Nice That, responds to a reader’s question about balancing creativity and business understanding. He argues that creatives should develop empathy for business priorities and that business and creative work should not exist in separate silos. The column emphasizes the growing importance of in-house creative teams and the integration of design thinking into business strategy.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progressother - "Don't Mention Day Job to Connect with Creative Peers, Advises Expert"
It's Nice That · Sep 1, 2025
This edition of the Creative Career Conundrums column, written by Alex Bec, co-founder of It’s Nice That, offers advice to a reader struggling to connect with creative peers. Bec encourages leading with creative passions rather than unrelated day jobs, seeking honest feedback, and creating opportunities to meet like-minded people through shared interests or self-initiated projects.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - "Exploring Career Fulfillment and Family Life Balance"
It's Nice That · Jul 21, 2025
This week’s Creative Career Conundrums column from If You Could Jobs features advice from Alex Bec, cofounder of It’s Nice That, addressing the challenges of balancing parenthood, creative ambition, and leadership roles. Bec encourages readers to explore flexible options within their current roles before considering freelance work, emphasizing open communication and realistic expectations about creative careers.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - "Strengthening Design Skills Without a Top School Education"
It's Nice That · Jul 7, 2025
In this week’s Creative Career Conundrums column from If You Could Jobs, Alex Bec offers advice to a designer who feels behind due to a limited design education. He reassures readers that foundational skills can be rebuilt through persistence, curiosity, and practice, emphasizing that there is no quick route to mastery. The piece encourages resilience, self-directed learning, and community engagement as key to creative growth.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progressother - "Bigger Studios Likely to Sponsor International Designers"
It's Nice That · May 19, 2025
In this edition of Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec, cofounder of It’s Nice That, offers advice to an international design graduate struggling to find sponsorship in the UK. He suggests targeting larger studios with established sponsorship systems and considering freelance work as a way to build relationships that could lead to full-time opportunities. The article also highlights the current challenges in the UK creative job market and points readers to resources and job listings on If You Could Jobs and Creative Lives in Progress.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progressother - "Protecting Your Intellectual Property During Job Interviews"
It's Nice That · Apr 28, 2025
In this edition of Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec, cofounder of It’s Nice That, offers advice on how creatives can protect their intellectual property during interview tasks. He emphasizes the importance of retaining ownership of unpaid work, requesting reimbursement for travel when appropriate, and trusting one’s instincts when something feels off in the hiring process.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - "Maintaining Your Creative Career Outside London"
It's Nice That · Mar 24, 2025
In this edition of If You Could Jobs’ Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec offers advice to a senior designer planning to leave London. He reassures readers that creative careers can thrive outside the capital, emphasizing the importance of networking early and exploring regional studios and remote opportunities. The article also shares resources and job listings for creatives across the UK.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - Navigating Workplace Dynamics: Advice for Suggesting Change
It's Nice That · Mar 3, 2025
This edition of the Creative Career Conundrums advice column, written by Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, addresses how to handle poor leadership and blocked communication in a creative agency. Bec advises maintaining integrity, reframing feedback constructively, and keeping dialogue open while also considering other career opportunities. The piece encourages tactful communication and professional growth within challenging workplace dynamics.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progressother - Creative Lives in Progress Relaunches for Emerging Talent
It's Nice That · Feb 11, 2025
Creative Lives in Progress has relaunched its platform in collaboration with Vienna-based studio Wild, introducing a redesigned, more accessible and centralised space for emerging creatives. The update enhances usability, adds new features like user accounts and a company directory, and reflects the platform’s mission to support diverse creative talent. The project continues CLIP’s growth under the Residence network and expands its reach to the US later this year.
WildCreative Lives in ProgressIt’s Nice ThatCreative Lives in Progressdigital - "Tips for Leading a Creative Team Through Tough Times"
It's Nice That · Feb 3, 2025
In this edition of Creative Career Conundrums, Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, offers advice to a creative professional struggling with the pressures of leading a small studio through difficult economic times. He encourages transparency with the team, sharing responsibility, and maintaining perspective and personal wellbeing. The piece emphasizes openness, balance, and self-care for creative leaders facing stress.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progressother - "Longer Wish List Sharpens Job Search Focus"
It's Nice That · Jan 13, 2025
In this week’s Creative Career Conundrums column, Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, offers advice to a design director seeking new challenges after years in small agencies and startups. Bec encourages the reader to focus on company scale and to refine their job wish list to better target opportunities in larger organizations. The piece also highlights current creative job openings from If You Could Jobs.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - "Alex Bec Reflects on Year of Creative Career Advice and Hopes for 2025"
It's Nice That · Dec 2, 2024
In this edition of the Creative Career Conundrums column, Alex Bec reflects on a challenging year for creative jobseekers and shares hopes for a more optimistic 2025. He calls for greater inclusivity, diversity, and investment in emerging talent across the creative industries. The piece also highlights current job opportunities through If You Could Jobs, the creative job board from It’s Nice That.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - "Guiding Clients to Better Design Outcomes"
It's Nice That · Nov 25, 2024
In this installment of the Creative Career Conundrums advice column from If You Could Jobs, Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, offers guidance on how designers can align with clients who have differing tastes. He emphasizes the importance of defining shared criteria for 'what good is' to avoid subjective disagreements and achieve better creative outcomes.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - Define success criteria for your design projects
It's Nice That · Nov 4, 2024
This installment of the 'Creative Career Conundrums' column features advice from Alex Bec, CEO of It’s Nice That, on how junior designers can navigate creative disagreements at work. Bec encourages designers to establish clear success criteria to make feedback more objective and to attempt resolution before considering a job change.
It’s Nice ThatIf You Could JobsCreative Lives in Progresseditorial - "It's Nice That HQ Seeks New Talent for Creative and Project Manager Roles"
It's Nice That · Aug 15, 2011
The article announces that It's Nice That is hiring for its new commercial design arm, New Studio London. Written by co-founder Alex Bec, it invites applicants for two roles — a middleweight creative and a project manager — to join the growing team. The piece highlights the studio’s ethos of creative possibility and collaboration.
It's Nice ThatNew Studio Londonother